Herrick, however (a poet amid whose absurd conceits and intolerable affectation there are samples of the sweetest versification and touches of the deepest pathos, and who amongst a great deal that is liable to heavier objections still, has preserved many curious particulars of old ceremonies and obsolete superstitions), carries this custom of adorning our houses with evergreens over the entire year, and assigns to each plant its peculiar and appropriate season. To Christmas he appoints those which we have stated to be most commonly used on that occasion, but insists upon a change of decoration on the eve of Candlemas Day:-- "Down with the rosemary, and so Down with the baies and misletoe; Down with the holly, ivie, all Wherewith you drest the Christmas hall; That so the superstitious find Not one least branch there left behind;" and he urges the maids to the careful performance of this charge by the following threat:-- "For look! how many leaves there be Neglected there, maids, trust to me, So many goblins you shall see." The plant by which he orders these to be replaced for Candlemas Day is box, whose turn is to continue-- "Until the dancing Easter Day Or Easter's Eve appeare." Then the box is to make way for "the crisped yew;" which is to be succeeded at Whitsuntide by birch and the flowers of the season; and these again are to yield to the-- "Green rushes, then, and sweetest bents, With cooler oken boughs;" whose reign continues till the period again comes round of preparation for Christmas. We believe that it is still usual in many parts of England to suffer the Christmas greens to remain in the windows of our churches, and sometimes of our houses, until Candlemas Eve. Of those plants, then, which are considered as containing meanings that make them appropriate decorations for the Christmas-tide, or which have for any reason been peculiarly devoted to that season, the laurel, or bay, may be dismissed in a few words. Since the days of the ancient Romans this tree has been at all times dedicated to all purposes of joyous commemoration, and its branches have been used as the emblems of peace and victory and joy. Of course its application is obvious to a festival which includes them all, which celebrates "peace on earth," "glad tidings of great joy," and a triumph achieved over the powers of evil and the original curse by the coming of the Saviour. We may add that, besides forming a portion of the household decorations, it is usual in some places to fling branches and sprigs of laurel on the Christmas fire, and seek for omens amid the curling and crackling of its leaves:-- "When laurell spirts i' th' fire, and when the hearth Smiles to itselfe and guilds the roofe with mirth; When up the Thyrse is rais'd, and when the sound Of sacred orgies flyes around, around,"